A lot of founders think: 'If it feels smart, users will stay.'
But I’ve seen the opposite happen.
When advanced features show up before workflows are stable, users don’t feel impressed, they feel confused. The app becomes unpredictable. The learning curve grows. And churn rises quietly.
Common early mistakes:
- Over-automating before users understand the basics
- Predicting behavior from too little data
- 'Personalization' that locks in after one action
- Features that change the UI without telling the user why
A simple rule I like:
Earn trust in layers.
Start with features that reduce effort without surprising the user. Then add prediction/automation only after behavior patterns are stable.
Full breakdown (what to build early vs later).
Debate: What’s worse for a new app?
A) No smart features early
B) Too many smart features early
Pick A/B and explain why.
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